Lack of Self-Promotion Hurts Women in Large Firms

In Chapter 13 of our textbook, we learned that there are essentially 3 explanations for why women are underrepresented in high-level leadership positions: human capital, prejudice, and gender differences. Gender differences deal with the issue that women are simply just different from men. This argument claims that women's underrepresentation in elite leadership positions is a result of differences in leadership style and effectiveness. Our textbook provides sufficient evidence to say that women are no less motivated or intelligent or worse leaders. However, there is research to indicate that women are less likely than men to promote themselves for leadership positions. The article provided below talks about how that lack of self-promotion hurts women in large law firms. They use the example of Dorthy from the Wizard of Oz as a leader. How she solved the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion's problems, but at the end of it, did not look for any recognition or reward. The author says that that is why no one knows what she did and no one considered her a leader. Not surprisingly, only 2% of the chairs of major law firms are women and only19% of the partners at large law firms are women. The author also says that one reason for this definitely pertains to the fact that the old boys' club, unconscious bias, and outright resentment of women who ask for business or leadership opportunities are still a threat to many law firms. And that it is not that male lawyers are better at their jobs or more successful, it's simply just that women are not as adamant about "strutting their stuff" as men. The article also provides a list of ways to break the barriers that hold women back from positions of power in law firms.

http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2009/07/self-promotion.html